Strong Agriculture, Natural Gas Industries Benefit All Pennsylvanians

January 8, 2019

Harrisburg, PA – As thousands flock to the 103rd Annual PA Farm Show to learn and experience more about the Commonwealth’s agriculture community, the agricultural community is also celebrating the benefits that have come to pass thanks to the natural gas industry. Pennsylvania’s diverse agriculture industry includes dairy, aquaculture, swine, equine, poultry, feed, and grain – all of which require natural gas fuels and fertilizers to produce and deliver products.

“Family-owned and commercially-owned farms alike are helping to feed the Commonwealth’s citizens and the industry continues to be a powerhouse of food production,” explained Chris Herr, Executive Vice President of PennAg Industries Association. “No matter the size of the farm, the crop or the type of animal, farmers use energy in various forms to grow crops and raise animals. Having reduced energy costs, thanks to the natural gas production in Pennsylvania, helps lower bills and keeps our farmers farming.”

Energy savings are being realized across the United States thanks to the domestic production of natural gas. A recent report from the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) titled “Everyday Energy for Pennsylvania” examined the benefit of the natural gas production in the region and found Pennsylvanians have saved more than $30.5 billion between 2006 and 2016 on their natural gas bills. Residential natural gas users saved $13.3 billion while industrial and commercial natural gas users saved $17.2 billion.

“Every person has benefitted from the natural gas industry here in Pennsylvania,” explained Michael Butler, Mid-Atlantic Director of CEA. “Low cost, abundant energy helps families and seniors on budgets, businesses looking to expand and manufacturers searching for a location to return to the Commonwealth. And importantly, this natural gas production and lower prices also create benefits for farmers because energy input costs are embedded in every facet of their operations from running equipment to drying crops.”

Natural gas production and agriculture are often linked in Pennsylvania as both generally exist in more rural areas. For more than a decade, the two industries have coexisted and contributed to hundreds of stories of Pennsylvania farmers able to keep or expand their businesses thanks to the revenue from the natural gas production under their property.

“The strong relationship between these two industries coexisting and benefitting one another continues to be a true success story. We are proud to continue to showcase the resiliency, strength, and innovation of our farmers at the PA Farm Show,” Herr concluded.

###

About PennAg Industries Association
PennAg Industries Association (PennAg) is the premier agribusiness association in Pennsylvania. PennAg is a full-time, full-service membership association representing Pennsylvania agribusinesses of all sizes and types that support and serve the entire food chain. Learn more about at PennAg.com.

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 500,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.